Splice device.



L. C. WELDIN.

SPLICE DEVICE.

APPLICATloN FILED 1uLY|9.1911.

l, 146,467, Patented July 13,' 1915.

coLuMmA PLANome/u'll co,.\vAsmNG1-0N.D.c.

stares raras rios.

LEWIS C. WELDIN, OF CHESTER HEIGHTS, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO B. K. ELLIOT COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

sPLIcE DEVICE.

To all @0h-0m t may concern:

`Be it known that I, LEWIS C. WELDIN, of Chester Heights, in the county of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Splice Devices, of' which the following is a specification. f

An object of my invention is to provide a new and improved splice-device or fastener, particularly designed for use in splicing an engineers steel tape, but my invention is applicable for use for splicing or fastening other articles.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device of the character described by which two ends of` a steel tape, etc., may be secured together without the necessity of overlapping or folding the ends.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a device of the character described in which the ends of the tape, etc., are covered or protected, and of such a nature that the spliced portion of the tape, etc., will be even and smooth and of not much greater thickness than the tape, etc., to which the splice-device is applied.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates an application of my invention, Figure l is a plan of the blank from which the splice-device or fastener is constructed; Fig. 2, a similar view showing one member folded down upon the body-portion or bottom-member of the device; Fig. 3, a perspective view showing the splicing-device formed and ready for use; Fig. 4, an end view; Fig. 5, a longitudinal sectional view showing the splicing-device applied to two ends of a tape; Fig. 6, a cross sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and Fig. 7, a similar view taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawing, the splicing-device or fastener, as illustrated and as preferred, is made from a single piece or blank of sheet metal, and comprises a body-por tion or bottom-member l, a continuous foldable member 2 extending throughout the length of the blank and bent upwardly at an angle with the body or bottom-member l. The corners of member 2 are preferably cut away, as shown at 2a.

The blank or piece of metal from which the splicing-device is formed is provided with two slots o. Projecting from the opposite edges of member 1, and bent at an angle thereto, I provide two foldable-mem- Specification of Letters Patent. Application sie@ July 19, 191i. serial No. 539,382.

body. l between theV ymembers 3 and 5.

Patented July is, i915.

bers 3 ,and `5, and in addition thereto, a Vmember 4. Member 4 is designed to act as a bearing for the ends of the tape, and is bent into close contact with the member l.

c and l designate two ends of a tape that are to` `be joined together.

In applying the splicing-device to the tape, the ends of the tape are placed` on the foldable portions 2, 3

and 5 with the edges of the ends of the tape Vresting upon the bearing member 4. IVhile Vin this position the members 3 and 5 are pressed down against the tape, after which the member 2 is pressed down over the said The position of the parts, while in operative engagement, are clearly shown by Fig. 5; and, as shown, the ends of i the tape while maintained in close relation do not overlap, and owing to the thin material and construction of the splice, the spliced-portion of the tape is only a tri'lie thicker than an unspliced portion.

What I claim is:

l. As an article of manufacture, a splice for an engineers tape, etc., formed of a single piece of metal and comprising a bottom-member, a continuous foldable-member projecting from an edge of the bottom-member and disposed at an angle therewith, a central bearing-member folded to lie adjacent to said bottom member having a fiat contacting face of sufficient length and width to support the ends of the tape to be united projecting from the opposite edge of the bottom-member and lying in close contact therewith, and foldable members projecting from the same edge of the bottommember as the central member and adapted to be bent over the tape adjacent to opposite ends of the beaiingmember.

2. As an article of manufacture a splice device for metallic tape formed of a single piece of metal and comprising a bottom portion, a centrally disposed bearing portion raised from said bottom portion and having a fiat tape contacting surface, foldable portions on opposite sides of said bottom portion, one of said foldable portions being divided and adapted to be folded into engagement with and compress the tape on opposite sides of said raised bearing portion and the other adapted to be folded over said oppositely folded portions and the ends of the tape to be united, substantially as set forth.

3. As an article of manufacture, a splice device for metallic tape formed of a single piece of metal comprising a bottom-member, a single foldable-member projecting from an edge of the bottom-member and extending throughout the length thereof, said member having rounded corners, a centrally disposed bearing-member having a fiat tape contacting face of suilicient length and Width to support the ends of the tape to be united bent from the opposite edge of the bottom-member, from opposite directions and foldable members projecting from the same edge of the bottom-member as the bearing-member and adapted toengage the respective end portions of the tape adjacent to the bearing-member, said singlemember foldable over the other foldable members.

1l. As an article of manufacture, a splice for metallic tape or the like, consisting of a single piece of sheet metal having a central base member and foldable members projecting from opposite edges adapted to be folded to secure the ends of two pieces of tape together, said central member being formed with a centrally arranged raised portion adapted to support the ends of said tape,a tape securing portion on either side of said raised portion adapted to be folded into engagement therewith, and an oppositely arranged portion adapted to be folded to engage the ends of said tape and said other portions, substantially as set forth.

5. As an article of the class described consisting of a single piece of sheet metal suitably out and bent so as to have a portion of increased thickness at an intermediate point in said member, portions arranged on either side of said centrally 1 arranged Vportion adapted to be bent to engage a piece of tape, and an oppositely arrangedportion adapted to be folded over saidfother portion and secure the ends of a tape adjacent said centrally arranged portion, substantially as set forth. l

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

LEWIS C. WELDIN.

Vitnesses A. P. OTTEY, HARRY P. OTTEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for iive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

